Multi-level coordination reconciles diverse interests and approaches

Challenge

Multi-level governance is critical in a decentralised federation, where water resource management is rooted in participatory democracy. Decentralised management is an appropriate response to diversity in needs and local conditions, but it poses coordination challenges. These include reconciling the 'double dominion' of federal and state responsibilities and determining the functional scale for oversight, breaking down silos to foster policy coherence among water, agriculture, energy, environmental licensing, sanitation and land use, and making sure data, capacity and funding flow to where they are needed.

X Overview of OECD principles on water governance

Policy coherence Capacity Data & information

Financing

Appropriate scales within basin systems

Clear roles & responsabilities F F ECTIVENESS E

WATER GOVERNANCE EFFICIENC Y

Regulatory frameworks

Innovative governance

Monitoring & evaluation

Trade-off across users, ruraland urban areas, and generations Stakeholder engagement

Integrity & transparency

Response

As the overarching link in decentralisation to river basins, states and municipalities, ANA can reconcile top-down and bottom-up influences and policies. Based on a decade of dialogue, the OECD formulated the following recommendations for ANA and relevant, federal, state and other stakeholders:

Empower states to strengthen basin governance and integrate federal water management

f Strengthen the power, influence and effectiveness of the national and state water resources councils in guiding decisions at the highest level. f Strengthen the capacity of state-level institutions in terms of staff, funding, monitoring and enforcement.

f Strengthen the effectiveness of basin-level institutions for results-oriented engagement of stakeholders and full-fledged implementation of river basin plans.

f Scale-up opportunities for sharing experience across states and basins to foster learning through peer-to-peer dialogue.

Support evidence-based stakeholder engagement and social mobilisation

f Raise the profile of water as a strategic priority with broader economic, social and environmental benefits for national policy.

f Raise awareness among stakeholders about future risks and promote greater interaction with municipalities in consultative and deliberative fora. f Foster transparency and regular information-sharing for greater trust. f Enhance cross-sector coordination for greater policy coherence and consistency.

Combine top-down and bottom-up approaches

f Foster the continuity and impartiality of public policy for a long-term vision towards sustainable water resources management. f Take a consistent approach to defining the water resource pool to maximise benefits, and facilitate reallocation when appropriate to encourage water efficiency.

f Encourage pricing mechanisms, including water charges, to reflect the opportunity costs of alternative uses of water resources.

f Set water resources plans that guide water allocation decisions, and make the best use of the variety of economic instruments to support their implementation.